Sachin Tendulkar not yet ready to commit whether he will play in Mumbai Indians’ first match against Bangalore Royal Challengers
Sachin Tendulkar not sure if IPL is future of Indian cricket
India’s top batsman and Mumbai Indians’ skipper Sachin Tendulkar is not yet ready to accept the idea that the IPL will change the way cricket is being played and viewed upon.
The DLF IPL Twenty20 begins on Friday with a clash between Kolkata Knight Riders and Bangalore Royal Challengers, led by Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid respectively, at Chinnaswany Stadium , Bangalore.
Due to the mix of Indian and foreign players in all the sides the media persons are finding it difficult to portray any of the sides as favorites, which points to an even contest in all the Twenty20 maches.
The Sachin Tendulkar-led Mumbai Indians will take on Dravid-led Royal Challengers on Sunday, though Tendulkar may not play due to an injury.
Sachin Tendulkar said he was unsure if Twenty20 and IPL was the future of cricket.
Recently many cricketers have voiced their opinion for and against the Twenty20 format.
But the Mumbai Indians’ captain admitted that the format has had many takers India, with international players in a local side making it more attractive.
Prominent international stars in Sachin Tendulkar’s Mumbai Indians include Sanath Jayasuriya and Shaun Pollock.
Sachin Tendulkar also said the International Cricket Council will have to include IPL in their calendar or Future Tours programme to avoid clash between various tours.
Apart from Bangalore Royal Challengers, Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders the other teams are: Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab.
Only eight overseas players can be included in any squad of which only four can be in playing eleven as per IPL rules.
As per an understanding with Cricket Australia, only two Australians can be part of a squad in IPL.